Look familiar? Defense gets ball, offense runs
By JAMAL THALJI
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 29, 2001
Tampa Bay fans surely recognized how the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXXV unfolded, with the victory-bound Ravens punishing the bewildered Giants with their own version of "Buc Ball."
Kerry Collins' woes continued as the Ravens harassed him into throwing two incompletions and sacked him, forcing a punt.
Starting from the Giants 38, Baltimore's Trent Dilfer hit tight end Ben Coates with a 17-yard pass to the 21. Then rookie Jamal Lewis took over, pounding against the faltering New York defense, and breaking free for a crucial 9-yard gain to convert third and 1 at the 12.
On the next play, Lewis took the ball and swept left. Three Giants defenders stopped him a yard shy of the end zone, but Lewis extended his hands and stretched the tip of the ball into the end zone, though he fumbled almost simultaneously.
The officials ruled it a 3-yard TD run, but New York coach Jim Fassel challenged the call.
Upon further review, Baltimore had won the Lombardi Trophy.
The Ravens took a commanding 31-7 lead and the Giants' hopes of mounting a historic comeback on the NFL's greatest stage were over.
Even Ron Dixon lost luster off his star within a matter of seconds, fumbling away the ensuing kickoff. James Trapp's strip was recovered by Robert Bailey at New York's 34.
Matt Stover kicked a 34-yard field goal to make it 34-7, and the game was over except for commercial breaks.
Super Bowl XXXV MVP Ray Lewis, who finished with five tackles, was no more humble after the game than he had been in the weeks leading up to it.
"It was incredible the way we played as a team," he said. "But this defense has played this way all year, and we never got any credit for it.
"We're the best ... we're the best ever right now."
Today's Super Bowl story lineup
The champions
- Rockin' Ravens
- MVP caps Lewis' strange journey
- 'We're the greatest of all-time'
- Q&A with Brian Billick
- Modell savors a Super year at last in a different city
- Ravens win doesn't improve Cleveland's mood
- I see your return, and raise you one
- Ravens defense stakes its claim
Columns
- Mizell: Trent in land of wonder
- Shelton: Baltimore's defense leaves a lasting impact
- Fry: QB Collins should shoulder the blame
- Ginn: CBS' new replay system a look into the future
- Zucco; For some, it's the party, not the game
- Deggans: Pregame coverage lacked local images
- Auman: Third quarter tests Internet's immediacy
- Trigaux: Ads, not football, supreme in Super Schmooze XXXV
The Giants
- Giants grasp for answers
- Q&A with Jim Fassel
Postgame analysis
- Dungy a bit surprised by game's outcome
- Ravens rose on Giants' mistakes
Inside the game
- Super Bowl XXXV by the numbers
- Breathtaking returns: Starks, Dixon, Lewis
- Sehorn coverage error leads to touchdown
- Look familiar? Defense gets ball, offense runs
- First quarter: Play by play
- First quarter: Best & worst
- Penalty negates a big play for the Giants
- Second quarter: Best & worst
- Second quarter: Play by play
- Third quarter: Play by play
- Third quarter: Best & worst
- Best 36 seconds in Super Bowl history
- Fourth quarter: Play by play
- Fourth Quarter: Key Play
- Fourth quarter: Best & worst
Local impact
- Big game and week before it seen as win for bay area
- What they're saying: Stupidity rules the roads
Beyond the sidelines
- Four bars' patrons quaff winnings of Bud Bowl
- Big crowds, big spenders
- Altruism? That's the (free) ticket
- Many avoid traffic nightmares
- Tickets stolen? Too bad
- Unusual musical pairings bring fire to day's festivities
- Area dancers show pregame joy, nerves
- Corporate America buys star execs ultimate party
- Some just don't care about the big game
- On Super Bowl Sunday, the party's anywhere
- Celebrity watch
- Brought to you by ...
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